A Vibrant Seattle Through Transportation Excellence.

You may have seen the Seattle Times article about how local employers are getting their employees to making other transportation choices instead of driving to work alone. Here at SDOT, we have a name for that – it’s our Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) program! Housed in our Transit & Mobility division, we’ve worked hard to achieve success with CTR. We contract with Commute Seattle to provide CTR programming in Seattle.

CTR BACKGROUND

We’ve given a little CTR history before, but just to refresh your memory: in 1991, the State legislature passed the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Act, requiring that large employers (100+ employees) encourage their employees not to drive alone in order to help reduce carbon emissions and keep people moving. SDOT connects employers with transportation resources and services that enhance these programs.

HOW IT WORKS

CTR employers are required to complete an employee survey every two years and submit a program report detailing what their transportation program includes. This is a vital source of data for SDOT and the state, allowing us to track program performance as well as better understand the mode split and behavior of Seattle commuters. Seattle assigns a goal Drive Alone Rate (DAR) to 8 neighborhoods around the city so employers know how they are performing relative to their peers. CTR employers:

Appoint an Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) to be the primary contact between the employer and the City to administer and promote the employer’s CTR program.

Develop and promote a program that helps employees reduce drive-alone commute trips.

Exercise a good faith effort by collaborating with the City in its administration and implementation of the law.

WHAT PROGRAMS INCLUDE

There are many types of benefits employers offer to help make your commute easier and cheaper!

Since 2011-12 to 2015-16, our citywide DAR (Drive Along Rate, remember?) fell from 35.93% to 34.18%. That may not seem like much, but every percentage point counts! That’s despite more and more CTR commuters and trips into our rapidly growing city.With your help we’ll continue to make considerable progress towards our goal of 10% DAR reduction!

Numbers from Commute Seattle’s Modeshare Study show how the system is accommodating new residents and workers. From 2010-2016, downtown Seattle added approximately 45,000 jobs, but 95% of the gain in net commute trips was absorbed by non-drive alone modes. How will you get to work?

Meet E-DUI (more formally, Driving Under the Influence of Electronics), Washington State’s new distracted driving law that went into effect July 23. The law is part of Washington’s Target Zero efforts. And yes (in case you were wondering), Target Zero and Vision Zero are cousins, both committed to ending traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030, through engineering, education, and enforcement.

In Seattle, we’ve seen distracted driving on the rise – a 300% increase (from 2011 to 2014) – contributing to 3,000 of the 10,000 crashes per year on city streets. Statewide, fatalities from distracted driving increased 32% from 2014 to 2015.

These crashes are preventable. It’s no accident to be texting your friend, scrolling through your social media feeds, or finding that perfect song. These are all choices that could change someone’s life forever.

Here’s what you need to know about the new law:

No hand-held cell phone use while driving (even when you’re stopped in traffic or at a light). But what about…? Nope. Zero. Zilch. Nada.*(unless you’re calling 911)

You CAN use your device if you are

Hands free (Bluetooth) and can start use by a single touch or swipe without holding the phone

Parked or out of the flow of traffic

Starting your GPS or music before you drive

Contacting emergency services

How much does a ticket cost?

First E-DUI: $136

Second E-DUI (within 5 years): $234

Plus (this is new): all violations will be available to your insurance company (READ: increased insurance rates)

2-way radio, citizen band radios, or amateur radio equipment are not included in the law

Dangerously distracted

You can also get a $99 ticket for other types of distractions, like grooming, smoking, eating, or reading if the activity interferes with safe driving AND you’re pulled over for another traffic offense.

Bottom line, if you’re on the road, get off your phone.

Our colleagues at the Seattle Police Department will be educating people on the road, issuing warnings in July and August before they start issuing tickets in September. For more resources and information (including translated info, videos, and print), head to www.wadrivetozero.com/distracted-driving.